Afternoons have been a little emptier than usual this month at Balboa Park, as attendance has decreased following the city’s newly implemented parking fees. The change has reportedly had sweeping impacts on visitor attendance and the park’s revenue, but to locals, much of the real impact lies in damage to the ecosystem of families, students, artists, and workers that breathe life into Balboa.

One San Diego resident, James, found out about the new fees while on one of his weekly trips to Balboa with his wife and daughters.

“I can see the [reduction] in visitors here,” James told The UCSD Guardian while strolling with his family in front of the Botanical Building. “Usually, when we come here on Friday afternoon, there’s gonna be a lot of people here, but now it’s different. It’s kind of quiet now.”

Featuring countless kid-centered attractions like youth arts programs, museums, playgrounds, and rides, Balboa Park is “a can’t-miss for families,” according to its online brochure. But for local parents like James who make up the park’s 14 million annual visitors, parking fees have turned a regular midday stroll into a small luxury. According to James, he and his wife plan to either park further from Balboa in future weeks to avoid fees or abandon the family tradition altogether.

As any local can attest, Balboa provides a free and well-trafficked venue for street performers, issuing 300 month-long permits for musicians and other entertainers every year. On a given afternoon, the park’s walkways are dotted with musicians, portrait artists, and street magicians like Rob, who regularly casts his magic for the crowds at Balboa. Rob’s biggest concern is that the fees will slow down business for museums and other large attractions, ultimately decreasing business for the park as a whole.

“People are going to start coming to this park a lot less,” Rob said. “I might be doing okay, but we are all a part of this ecosystem. Without street performers, without the museums, we don’t have a park anymore.”

Amid these community concerns, the city of San Diego’s recent decision to partially roll back parking fees provides a glimmer of hope.

The Balboa Park Cultural Partnership hopes that this will be the first step in reversing the fees entirely.

Peter Comiskey, executive director of the partnership, expressed hope in a recent press release: “As conversations continue, we will remain engaged with City leaders and regional stakeholders to ensure Balboa Park remains welcoming and accessible to all who depend on and support it.”